Abstract Title

Author Information

Faculty Mentor Name

Andri Gretarsson

Format Preference

Poster

Abstract

This research will result in the development of a type of scattering microscope with a resolution limit that exceeds that of optical microscopy. The tradeoff is that only a limited amount of information is obtained about the sample morphology, which can still be valuable. The goal will be to learn to understand and catalog that limited information using Mie theory.

Mie theory describes the way light is scattered by homogeneous spherical particles with sizes comparable to the wavelength of light incident on the particle. Through directing a focused, Gaussian-profile laser beam onto a slide of fused silica microspheres, one can find the scattered light intensity as a function of scattering angle and compare this data to the Mie theory model. This approach provides a method of detecting and characterizing the morphology of point-defects in optical coatings, such as prototype optical coatings for Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) test masses.

In the case of LIGO, a highly sensitive experiment whose performance depends on almost perfect optics, this scattering microscope could lead to an understanding of point-defects that affect the sensitivity of astrophysical observations. However, this method is of general applicability and is thus likely to find uses outside of LIGO as well.

Location

AC1-ATRIUM

Start Date

3-31-2017 11:00 AM

End Date

3-31-2017 3:00 PM

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This research will result in the development of a type of scattering microscope with a resolution limit that exceeds that of optical microscopy. The tradeoff is that only a limited amount of information is obtained about the sample morphology, which can still be valuable. The goal will be to learn to understand and catalog that limited information using Mie theory.

Mie theory describes the way light is scattered by homogeneous spherical particles with sizes comparable to the wavelength of light incident on the particle. Through directing a focused, Gaussian-profile laser beam onto a slide of fused silica microspheres, one can find the scattered light intensity as a function of scattering angle and compare this data to the Mie theory model. This approach provides a method of detecting and characterizing the morphology of point-defects in optical coatings, such as prototype optical coatings for Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) test masses.

In the case of LIGO, a highly sensitive experiment whose performance depends on almost perfect optics, this scattering microscope could lead to an understanding of point-defects that affect the sensitivity of astrophysical observations. However, this method is of general applicability and is thus likely to find uses outside of LIGO as well.